Our beloved friends from Israel, Zeresh, have collaborated with Italian project Albireon for an apocalyptic doom-folk classic. Considering the state of the world, I choose that word advisedly. This album has something special to it because so many parties come together and work seamlessly, something rare for a split album. The music is both spacious and claustrophobic at the same time, as the tones are dark, a bit creepy and haunting. This would compare rather well to the early acoustic forays into folk that Current 93 took decades ago, though with a gloomier feel about it. Take, for instance, the…
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Clara Engel is based in Toronto, Canada. Her work has been described as “Folk-Noir” or “minimalist holy blues,” and who am I to disagree? This takes the best elements of neofolk, stripped-down to just voice, cigar box guitar, electric guitar, melodica and harmonica, and it sounds like a rare self-pressed release worth thousands one could find on eBay, but living up to the hype. Clara’s voice is a perfect match for the ethereal music supporting it. I have a feeling those who like the folkier elements of Current 93, Nick Drake, Shirley Collins and 70’s progressive folk are going to find…
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Vàli are a neofolk band out of Norway whose music shows references to bands like Ulver and Empyrium. It’s a rather gentle album with acoustic guitar and fiddle, reminding me of the American folk-rock band Changes and the Chinese neofolk band Raflum. A mellow experience.